Surgical appliance



Patented July 12, 1927.

CEDELIA BARTHOLOMEW, OF SAN FRANCISCQ CALIFORNI.

SURGICAL APPLIANCE.

Application led April 25, 1923'. Serial No. 634,476.

The present invention relates to improvements in surgical appliances and resides in the provision of a highly efficient appliance for use by physicians in correcting and treating irregularities of the female genital organs.

An object of the invention is to provide an instrument of the character described which may be efiicaciously applied by physicians to treat congested or infiamed areas and to support and correct weakened and misplaced organs of the character defined, the appliance remaining in position for periods of weeks or months without requiring attention or adjustment, or causing any discomfort or injury to the patient.

Another object is to provide an instrument of the type described, which when in use will not in any way interfere with the regular menstrual periods or the normal functioning of the organ to which it is applied..

l/Vith the above mentioned and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing,and set forth in the claims hereto appended, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction within the scope of the claims may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. l represents a perspective View of the appliance as when applied, showing in dotted lines the organ of body to which it is applied.

Fig. 2 lis side elevation of the appliance.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the appliance; Fig. 4 isa perspective view of the appliance.

The embodiment of the appliance 'shown in accompanying drawing comprises essentially a shank portion l, adapted as shown to ex-` tend into the orifice -of the uterus and outer cervix engaging portions 2 and 3. i

The appliance is made of small gage preferably gold wire, a single length of which is bent to provide, as the shank portion 1, four straight equi-distantly, spaced parallel arms 4, which are joined in pairs by a deflected curved portion 5. erally enlarged and diverged sharply so as to distend the walls of the orifice of the uterus. At the other ends of each pair of The portions 5 are lat-V Vthe arms the wire is bent to form the cervix engaging portions 2 and 3. The portions are curved back toward the portions 5 and so shaped as to closely conform to the outer cervix of the organ. They are adapted to extend on'opposite sides of the mouth of the uterus and are so disposed andA shaped as to not in any way interfere withrthe regular functioning of that portion of the uterus. These portions 2 and 3 effectively support in proper position the mouth and outer cerof the uterus and will act to correct misplacements of the uterus and to relieve inflamed and congested-areas of the uterus.

The shank l of the appliance extends beyond the inner cervix of the uterus and the deflected ends distend thev wall of the orifice beyond this point. The muscular contraction around the orifice near the inner cervix .causes the uterus to grip the shank l and holdthe appliance in place. This with the cervix engaging portionhooking around the outer cervix causes the appliance to be securely held in place without causing any irritation or discomfort.

The appliance after being inserted in position by the physician, will not in any way interfere with the regular menstrual functioning and may be left in place for long periods without requiring attention or producing irritation or discomfort. f

The appliance may be used by physicians to great advantage to correct irregularities in menstruation, to relieve inflamed and congested areas by supporting the organ in position to correct such conditions and to support and restore in a harmless and effective manner misplaced organs or parts of the ory gans, without discomfort to the patient, and

without interfering with the regular menstrual periods andother normalfunctioning of the organ.

rlhe appliance being made of a single piece of wire has the ends smoothly joined by being soldered or otherwise secured together.

I claim:

1. A surgical appliance for the uterus, comprising a shank portion adapted to eX- tend into the orifice of said organ which shank comprises a. plurality of spaced substantially parallel wire arms, and portions adapted to extend around and engage the outer cervix of said organ, which portions curve outwardly and then rearwardly from one end of the shank portion and are formed as continuation of said Wire arms, the inner ends oi' the :mns oi' said shank being joined and diverged.

2. A surgical appliance of the character defined comprising a single strand of Wire bent to forni a shank portion adapted to eX- tend into the orifice of the uterus which shank portion comprises spaced members having deflected outer ends and outwardly and rearwardly curving portions on the other ends of the shank arranged to extend in opposite directions and to engage opposite sides of the outer cervix of said organ.

.CEDELIA BARTHOLOMEVV. 

